Pavement-finishing machine



Aug. 12.? 192A E. WEBB T FINISHING MACHINE PAVEMEN 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14

Aug, 12, 1924 G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1922 s Sheets-:Sheet 8 4 I gvwo'vvi o z CiEWbb WM W Kug. 1 2 1924,

G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHiNG MACKINE 8" Sheets-Sh'ebt '5.

Filed Feb. 14 1922 attoz "up Aug. 12 24 4 1,504,404-

. G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT PI NIS HING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14 1922 8 Sheets--Sheet Aug. 12, 1924 G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHING ivmcrims G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHING MACHINE Aug. 1924i 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 14, 1922 gwmnhz ill'roznu o Webb G. E. WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet Fi'led Feb. 14, [1922 I 61 life: news Aug. 12 1924;

G. E; WEBB PAVEMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1922 a sheets-sheet B ldmachine hereinafter set I an improved. instrumentali Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

FATE T cnonen E. WEBB, or mmwaum, wrscousm, nssreuon To xonnnme comrm, or

MEWAUKEE, wrsconsm, A conromrron. a

PAVEMENT-FINI HING mhcnmn Application filed February 14, 1922. Serial No; 586,529,

- To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORG E. WEBB, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pavement--v Finishing Machines, of which the following s a specification.

The improved concrete pavement finishing 'continuationin part of my inventlon of my pen 779 filed June15, I921; In my previous application I have disclosed-a finishing mar .15 chine capable of finishing a ment the entire width thereof by forward" progressive movement, a surface contacting pressure apron being'utilized as a finishing member and'being preferably, though not necessarily, adapted to span the surface operated upon. In the said construction I employ a vibrating and weight device capableof travel lengthwise of the apron and crosswise 0f the surface operated upon, for the purpose of subjecting saidsurface composed of concrete aggregates freshly deposited to pressure, and while under pressure, to vibration. I

'In my present machine I'haveprovided ties for the primary objects of subjecting the. freshly deposited concrete aggregates to considerable pressure and imparting vibration thereto while under said ressure. With the foregoing in view, I utilize the pressure apron or member mounted upon a mobile support capable of traveling on the road rails or forms in a manner now well known, which apron has imparted thereto a 40 step by step forward progressive movement to bring it into contact with the surfaceaggregates, maintain it in contactfor a certain period of time,

to vibration to correspondingly vibrate the 46 road or pavement aggregates, thereafter lifted or raised and carried-forward to be again brought into contact with the aggregates, deliver very considerable pressure thereto and vibrate them as required by the 50 method of concrete road or pavementcom struction for which the machine is designed.

forth, represents a dmgapplication for pa road or pave- I -construct1on,- and of considerableadvantage V i the construction during which it is subjected An important feature of the resent invention resides in' so operating t apron or' member that the weight-of the entire machine,or substantially the whole weight is adapted to, be carried by the pressure member and transmitted through the same to," the road surface operated upon, at which time the pressure member issusceptible of being vibrated in. order to secure the vibratory treatment under pressure, for

the concrete aggregates. By the above construction, I obtain a very high degree of efficiency in the operation of the pressure transmitting apron or member, and furthermore, as disti guishedfrom my previous thereover,-the whole area of the pressure member receives the pressure load at. one

time, or during. the enod when said member e concrete and the presis contacting with t sure is required upon the latter to bring the surface to the proper grade sbusequently to the striking off of the aggregates, which is. the usual preliminary operation.

Regarding the vibratory phase of action of my machine, an important improvement has been eifected in that I have so designed that. the vibratory apron, on pressure member, is subjected to vibration throughout its entirearea duringthe pressure period. Under these circumstances, of course, the efiiciency of the vibration phase of my invention has been increased materially as it is not now necessary to maintain the apron in a certain position any great periodof time to'enable the operation of a vibrator upon different surface portions-of sa1d apron, aswas incident to the .operation of my previous invention.

In addition to the broader phases of novelty of my improved construction, I have provided certain specific improvements in the strike ofi member and finishing float or 'member,'by which the operation of these parts is effectively pe'rformed, together with automatic contrivances for throwing said parts out of action when the travel. of my machine i's'reversed preliminary to a successive'finishing operation upon a particularv section of the concrete pavement.

Additionally, I utilize special flexible e pressure ing my pressure apron,

operating the travel of the machine forwardly hand for the strike off member and drive means a member, especially adapted finishing float or to absorb shocks or for the time being,

trol mechanism for my machine possessing novel advantages,

, in that by the operation of a sin le lever I am enabled to render operative t e actuating devices for my pressure member. or surface contacting apron, the means for the vibrator .devices, and the controlling drive gearing by whicl compelled and rearwardly over the work, is v I utilize subdiscontinued. Furthermore, sidary to the foregoing, tem for my main control lever mechanism such that upon setting the same for reversal of travel of the' machine, the operating mechanism for stepping forward, or actuatdistributing member or is thrown out of operation, and likewise, the same eflectis simultaneously obtained in respect to the vibrating devices.

My invention involves certain other tailed features of construction which will appear more fully hereinafter. However, I do not wish to be limited to the special embodiment of the different mechanisms of my machine as disclosed herein, because within the purview of the broader phases of invention referred above, considerable modificationin the particular contrivances by which the various efiective operations upon the concrete surface are secured. In so far as I'am advised, Iam the firstto design a machine capable of subjecting a section of road or pavement to pressure and vibration. throughout its entire width, and in thisconnection I destinguish from such machines as comprise primarily road width tampers vibrated at greater or less s eed into and out of contact respecting t e road surface; at the same-time I distin ish between what may be characteriz'e by impact action, and a definite contacting pressure over a predetermined period as transmitted to the surface aggre-- gates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or Daawnvos.

. In the accompanying drawings, similar refierence characters denote similar parts, an A Figure 1 is a front elevation of the left half of my machine. Figure 1 is a corresponding elevation of the right hand half.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 1, and Figure 2} is a top plan view of that portion shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an end elevation looking toincident to the putting into. action of these members after thelr operation an interlocking sysreduction gear casing de-. matically the range of :I contemplate very ally an axle carrying .the which are adapted to travel on the road.

ward the end of the machine main propulsion drive gearing and control levers. p

Figure 4; is a sectional view through the machine at a point which shows more clearly the arrangement of the elliptic gears by which the pressure distributing member or apron is stepped forward in the travel of the machine.

Figure 5 1s a sort of fragmentary view showing more particularly the main control lever and its operative connections leading I to the elliptic gearclutches and the vibrator control clutch; also the connections to the propulsion gear devices.

Figure 6 is an end elevation showin more particularly the speed change and riving gears of the propulsion .gear mechanism.

Figure 7 1s a plan viewof the slotted plate controlling the movement of the main control lever.

Figure 8 is a view showing more clearly the worm gearing which is enclosed in the illust'rated in other figures of the drawings. r

' Figures 9, 10 an 11 show diagrammovement of the pressure and vibratin member as it steps forward, contacts with the road surface and raises from said surface.

Figure 12 is a sectional view through the planetary control clutch.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION or MAcHINn.

Portable support.

Thelmachine as illustrated inFigures 1 and 1 is complete, and likewise respecting Figures2 and 2* considered together. My

portable support for the pressure and vibratlng member, or apron, comprises primarily a frame A made up of longitudinal angle beams 1, channels, or other fabricated units, together with the spaced front and rear trusses 2 and 3 respectively, suitably connected by plates 4 and braces members 1.- Journalled' in a suitable manner atthe rear ort ion of the frame A is a two-part propel ing shaft 6'forming virtudrive wheels 7' rails or forms 8. Leading forwardly from having the 1'10.- -5 with the i the shaft 6 are the transverse shafts 9 located at oppositeends of the machine and geared to short gear shafts 10 at the front end of said machine, the latter shafts 10 forming axles suitably journalled in extensions 11 of the frame 'A and. carrying the front wheels 7 operating like the rear wheels? on the road forms 8. Suitable bevel are utilized to connect the shafts 10, in aself evident manner.

Strike ofi and finishing float. I I I At the front of the machine and suitably 6, 9 and gears '12.

sup orted by suspension rods 13, as best seen in igure 3, .is mounted the 'strike' o'if board or blade 14. This strike off may be raised or lowered and is adapted to have imparted thereto a reciprocating movement as the machine'travels forwardly in its operation. The suspension rods 13 permit of variation in the operating adjustment of the strike off, by means of nuts 13*, and vertically relatively to the machine and the road surface. Any suitable mechanism may be utilized to raise and lower the strike ofi, but I preferably utilize a cable device shown tending plates 18 on the upper 'endsof the a suspension rods 13, of which a suitable number is provided.- It will be quite clear that by turningeither of the wheels 16 from the adjacent end of the machine,-the cable 15 may be actuated to'turn the 'cams 17 so as to either raise or lower thestrike off 14, at the will of the operator. The foregoing provides for the adjustment of the strike 'ofi mtpkthrow it into and out of action respecting the road surface operated upon. For reciprocating the strike ofli 14 there is provided adjacent to its middle portion a laterally extending pin 19 adapted to move into and out of a notch 20 of a drive link 21, on'eend of which is resiliently supported by a vertical swinging. link 22 and spring 23 at the lower end of said link, theopposite end of the drive link 21 beingconnected with a lever 23 .which is pivoted at 24 and extends from the front to the 1 rear portion of the machine, said lever 24 has a drive member for the strike off and is operated by a pitman 25' with a'pitman wheel 26 which is resiliently connected by a spring 28 with the'lower end of a vertical shaft 28, see Figure 8,

forming a member of the speed reduction unit. enclosed in the casing29, seen best in Figures 1 and'2. Obviously motion may be transmitted from the shaft 28 through the pitman rod 25 to-the lever 23 and by the link 21 directly to the strike ofi 14. When the strike off is raised the pin 19 will be lifted out of the notch 20 of the link 21 and reciprocation of the strikeotf bythe' link 21 will be discontinued under such 0on dition.

The finishing board or member is located at the rear portion of the frame in advance of the. rear wheels 7 and is designated 30.

' This finishing member may be a board, float,

piece of canvas, or the like. For driving it identical operation.

reciprocally I utilize means corresponding identically with the drive link 21, pin 19, and slot 20 features of the operating means for my strike'o'fi" 14. Since these driving arts are the same,-t l1ey are similarly num- Eered on the drawings. The purpose of the resilient drive established by the spring 28 between the'pitman 25 and shaft 28 ,1S to cushion the shock incident to the sudden ens gagement of the pins 19 of the parts 14 and 30 with the driving links 21 previously described.- T

member 30 comprises parts which are substantially like those which sup ort the strikeoil 14 including suspension re s 13, nuts 13*,

and teams 17 Likewise a' cable device 15 corresponding to that previously described is employed for the raising andlowering-of the finishing member 30 by a substantially Pressure and eibmtz'ng-medns. As before premised, thep'ressure member is designed to exert its working pressure throughout its whole area, up'on'a compara- The supporting means for the finishing tively large portion of the surface of the paving being constructed, and for the entire ,width of the said paving, over which my machine travels longitudinally. My pressure member comprises, as seen best in'Figure 3, an angle iron frame 31 which has secured to the under side thereof bars 32 of' wood, or the equivalent, thesaid bars being spaced apart so as to permit surplus water and cement, forced through the pres- ,sure member by-the operating pressure and vibration thereof, to escape through' the spaces between said bars. 'lhe pressure -member is generally designated at B and includes the parts 31 and 32 described. To

support the pressure member B I utilize levers '33 arranged in pairs at intervals in the length of the machine, the said levers beinghung from the equalizing levers 34,

one of'which is provided'for each pair of tions, being designated 35. The equalizing levers "33, the connections between the levers 33 and the pressure member B, and the equalizing lever 34 having pivotal conneclevers 34 are pivoted to standards 36 and are resiliently supported by means-ofcoile'd springs 37, The standards .36 are carried by cross supports 38 whichare ofwood and possessed of certain resiliency in no way interfering with the transmission of vibra'- tory impulses caused by vibrating means;

carried by the levers 34. "Itis notable that the levers 33 of each pair are connected by a yoke 39, said yoke in conjunction with the lever 34 and the lowermost pivotal con nections 35 compelling aparallel'motion'of the pressuremem'ber B in operation. A se ries of eccentrics 40 are provided'1ongi-" tudinally of a driven shaft 41 and engage wardly and downwardly upon the surface aggr gates of the pavement to be finished,

engage in contact with said a gregates, and after a predetermined time become raised from the road surface, moved rearwardly,

and again forwardly and down-- upwardly, Yardly into engagement with the said surace.

. ment, during which time, as will later be end mem described, the machine has a bodily forward movement that may be interru ted f slightly only when its weight is carrie by the pressure member B rather than its traction wheels. Owing to the method of connecting the" parts 32, 33, 34 and 39, establishing certain linkages between said parts, the'pec'uliarstepping movement of the pressuremember is obtained and by properdesigning of these connections. the forward portions of the bars 32 of the pressure or B may be caused to lift from the road surface before the body portion of the said bars, so as to eliminate tendency of suction of the pressure member B as it separates from or moves from contact with the road surface.

It is evident that by reason of the mounting of the pressure member B and the mode of operating the same, this member may so en age with the road aggregates as to;

bear rmly downward thereon. In fact in practice, the action of the pressure member B is so positive arid its arrangement in relationto the tractive areas of the wheels 7, is such that when the pressure member engages the aggregates it is capable of lifting very slightly substantially the .whole weight of my machine.- In this way I utilize such weight to assist in obtaining the proper pressure upon the surface aggregates, and'to be supplemented by theaction of vibration of the pressure member, in order 'to compact and vibrate the aggregates in the desired manner until the proper surface has been formed at the predetermined required grade.

For vibrating the pressure member B I mount upon the equalizing levers 34 a series of rotating weights 42, said weights being disposed .in pairs and carried by weight shafts 43 mounted in suitable bearings onthe levers 34. The shafts 43 are geared together, as shown at 44, so as to maintain the weights-42 in proper relation such that as they revolve they willbe balanced in a horizontal direction and unbalanced in a vertical lane. Under the above conditions the weig ts 42 tendto transmit vibratory motion to the levers 34, and parts supported by said levers, including principally the pressure member B in up and down directions only. 7

In other Words, the pressure member B has a sort of forward stepping move It being understood that the stepping movement, so to speak, of the pressure member B is effected by the driving of eccentrics 40 on the shaft 41, .the actuating means for said eccentrics will now be described. The said actuating means are of peculiar construction. In order that the motion iniparted .to the pressure member 3 may be relatively slow, whilst said member is in engagement with the road surface and fast as itlifts from said surface and travels to make renewed engagement therewith. The shaft 4lis shown in Figure 4 as carrying an elliptic gear 45. Two or more of said gears are mounted on said shaft and are arranged tomesh with corresponding gears 46 upon a drive shaft 47 The shaft 47, as seen in Figure 8, is driven by the speed reduction gear set, including the gear and worm parts 48, 49, 5O'and 51, from the engine C which is suitably supported upon the. frame A of my machine, the reduction.

in the speed. being such as to preferably operate the shaft-47 at 311. P. This.

is a slow motion, the time to be transmitted 'to the elliptic gears 46 and 45 and to the shaft- 41 which is the driven shaft directly operating the pressure member B for its stepping and progressing movement. The rotary weight shafts 34 are driven by a high speed chain 52 connecting one of the shafts 43. with the shaft L53 of the gear set shown in Figure 8, and which is enclosed in the casing 29 previously referred to. A suitable friction clutch 54 is utilized to connect the shaft 53 and the drive wheel for the chain 52 to transmit motion to the revolving weight shafts 43. The vertical shaft ofthe speed. reduction gear. set ofv Figure 8, previously described as 28, is the shaft also hereinbefore set forth as the driv'-- ing means for the lever 23 which operates to reciprocate the strikeofl' 14 and the finishing float 30. Normally the elliptic gears 46 are loose on the shaft 47 and may only be thrown into operation by shifting suitable clutches 55 .and 56 to connectthe gears so as .to be driven from the shaft 47.

Propulsion means for machine.

The propelling of my -mafs hine forward- .and backward is effected through the drive of my portable support, and to be thrown out'to discontinue the drive and permit the machine to remain stationary. -The. drive gearing from the shaft 57 to the shaft 9 by which the axle shafts 6 and 10 are operated,

is best shown in Figures 6 and 7, and comprises the speed changing clutch member 59 movable upwards to engage the high speed gear 60, and downwards to engage the low speed gear 61, the parts 59, 66 and 61 being carried by a vertical shaft 62 on WlllCl'l the gears 60 and 61 are loose and the member "59 fixed. The shaft 62 is adaptedto drive, through its bevel gear.63, the larger bevel' gears 64 and 65 loose on the shaft 9 previously described. A forward high speed clutch member 66 on the shaft 9, is adapted to connect said shaft with the gear 65, and a reverse clutch member '67 is adapted to connect the gear 64 with the-shaft 9; The members; 66 and 67, are alternately engageable with" matching jaw clutch members of the gears by, actuation of clutch levers'68 connected together by a link 69, one of the I levers 68 being connected by a link 76, see Figure 6, with the main controlling lever 71'.

Lever controlling operation with a slotted control plate 72, see

Figure 7, said lever/71 having a handle atits upper end and being pivotally connected,

' between its ends, asshown at 73, with the slide rod 74, seen best in Fi crate in a socket 74 in the adjacent casing 75,'said socket forming a fulcrum for the lever to facilitate various shifting opera-s tions thereof. The slide rod'7 4 is connected by letters-76 with "the clutch members 55 I and 56,'and the fulcrumof one of the levers 76 has a, fixed arm 77 connected by a link 78 with the clutch lever '79 by which-the friction clutch 54 is thrown in and-out.

As shown in Figure 5, the rod 74 is connected by a bell crank lever 80 witha pull link .81, attached to, a rocker armv82 on a shaft 83, see also Figure 6, and said shaft '83 carries a part adapted to lift and lower the double jaw clutch member 59, previously described. f I

The friction clutch 58 by which the power plant is connected with the shaft 57 of the propulsion. mechanism, is controlled by a rod 84 provided with a handle adjacent to the lever 71. The clutch member 58 forms a part of a planetary gear set involving a three to one gearing, preferably'though not necessarily, by which motion is transmitted from the, power plant to the shaft- 57 by shifting the planetary gear devices by means of arod 85 ,equippedwith a handle adja cent to thelever 71. Regular and normally available forward speeds of 3- feet per minute and 16 feet per minute and .a reverse speed of. 16 feet, per minu tevmay be changed to travel at speeds of 9 feet and '48 feet per minute forward and 48 feet per minute rearward. have designated, the speeds which I have preferably employed myself, bu't-fof c'ourse,.mere change in I gear rat1os'jpermitsalteration of these selective speeds, andI may reasonably vary the same dependent upon the size of the The lever 71 is mounted for suitable re 5. The 7 lower end of the lever 71 is a apted. to op-,

machine, character of work, and possibly other considerations which may arise, and which greater experience than I now have in the use of my machine may warrant or render expedient.

Miscellaneous features.

T note'that Figure 7 illustrates the high speed, low speed, reverse and neutral posiv tions of the lever 71.

' There is shown in Figure 2 a plurality of openingsin the disk23 by which the pitman rod 25 is operated enabling adjustment of .the connection between said parts to vary somewhat the throw of the crank pin so that the-movement of the strike off 14, and likewisethe movement of the finishingmember 30 may be increased or decreased at will.

In looking at the-machine from the front, it is to be noted that. the pressure member B is curved to conform with the contour of 'the desired finished road surface, as known to be a requirement, to those versed in the art. i

Thenumber of eccentrics 40 and yokes 39 with corresponding connecting parts may be changed depending upon the size of the niachine, which of course is required to cor-' respond with the width of the particular road operated upon, atleast referabl so.

-In the present construction 0 my mac ine,

my pressure member B is so desi ned that it makes'a forward step often inc es in each cycle of its operation. This is not neces: sarily a fixed feature of my design forobvious, reasonsi Owing to the formation of my elliptic gears, I maintain" the pressure member; B in contact with the concrete eggregates of the road surface fora period of,

substantially fourteen seconds, whereupon the memberis lifted and six seconds are consumed in its movement and the time of suc cessive engagement with the road, surface.

Under-these conditions, for approximately two-thirds of a complete cycle of operation of the pressure member, said member is in contact and exerting pressure and vibration the motor ofthe power plant. By Way ofv example I mig'htstate that due to the weight of my present machine the approximate unit pressure'on the road surface may reach325 v I poundsper' square foot. The size of the revolving weights which do the vibrating work is suchthat they set up a force, by centrifugal action', equivalent to some 90 pounds per unit, or a total of 450 pounds, transmitted by the five units to the pressure member and acting on the road surface, while the pressure is being exerted by said pressure member.

GENERAL OPERATION or MACHINE.

the use of the machine a very dry mix,

something which is deemed highly desirable by engineers of road construction, may be availed of, the pressure and vibration of my pressure and vibrating member having a tendency to bring to the surface surplus water and grout enabling a good finish to be obtained. v

My machine being in posit1on over the road-bed and fresh aggregates having been deposited thereon, the strike off 14 and finishing-float 30 are raised to their ino erat1ve position, if not already so ad uste The machine is now ready to be started into action, for which purpose the operator Wlll move the lever -71 to the right, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, shifting it-from its midway neutral position. This preliminary causes a sliding of the slide rod 74 so as toengage the jaw clutches 55 and 56, putting into action the elliptic gears 46 and 45, and thereby starting the, movement of the pressure member B. Simultaneously with the sliding operation of the clutch members 55 and 56, the clutch lever 7 9 for the friction clutch 54 is actuated to thereby start the transmission of motion to the vibrator shafts 43.

The above movement of the lever 71 simultaneously with the shifting of the clutches referred to, causes the operation of the bell crank 80 and rocking of the clutch shaft 83 to engage the double clutch member 59 with the coacting clutch member 61 which does not yet-operate anything because the shaft 57 is still idle, the drive not being transmitted thereto until-later. Next the operator moves the lever to the right to occupy the low speed extension of the slot of the late 72 in Figure 7, thereby engaging the jaw clutch member 67 with the ear 64, ghrough the actuation of the link 70 y lever The machine is now set with the pressure 1 member B in motion and the vibrating devices also inaction, together with the drive gearing adjusted-to' impart slow speed forward at approximately threefeet per minreagent ute. The next operation is to render operative the strike off 14 and the finishing float 3G, and this is done by actuation of the handies 17 by which the cables 15 are adapted to be operated for the said respective parts is and 30,-thelatter being thus lowered to bring their pins into engagement with the I machine slowly progresses forwardly at the rate stated above, and during its progression the pressure member B will be in engagement with the concrete for two-thirds of the cycle of itsvpressure and vibrating contact with the concrete, lifting and stepping forward movement to start a successive cycle, in a manner which will be readily understood from the foregoing description. I have designed my machine so that preferably the fo'rward movement of the pressure member B and'the stepping forward of the machine are practicallyv the same. Under these conditions, there is no slippage or relative scrapingg or grinding action between the member and the concrete surface; to the contrary, the ressure member B acts with a straight ownward pressure, increased somewhat in the proportions outlined before herein by the vibrations which are imparted thereto by the revolving weights 42. Obviously the tremendous pressure exerted by the machine and the vibration of the pressure exerting member, has a very eflicient action to create a dense solid concrete bed and surface from which the surplus water and mortar is squeezed and adapted to 'pam off by flowing to the sides of the road, owing to the curved contour of the latter. -Under actual test my machine is effective to strike off the concrete properly when the strike of! board 14 is dis osed one-half inch above the concrete, and t 1e action of the pressure and vibrating means will bring down the surface to the proper grade. The effect of the finishing. member 30 is to seal the surface with the grout which is brought to the surface by the pressure and vibrating mechanism.

The operation of stopping the machine is a reverse of that previously described, the operator taking care to throw out the planetary clutch 58 first, by operating the rod 84. Therefore, the lever 71 may be actuated to discontinue the operation of gear 64 is thrown into'action by theefi'ective operation of the clutch member 67 n cooperation therewith. The machine will then travel at higher speed, as for instance, say

sixteen feet per minute as'per my design,

back to a desired starting point and the first mentioned operation may be put into effect by proper shifting of the lever 71 again.

The reversal of the machine compels the rendering of thepressure member and vibrating devices inactive for. the time being,

and this is an advantageous co-operation'of the parts for evident reasons.

In moving the machine from place to p1a'ce, or"a considerable distance, or in other words along the track which is comprised of the road rails or forms 8, the high speed gearing may be availed of by proper adjust ment of the lever 7-1, under whichcondrtions of course the high speed clutch member 66 will be thrown into action. 5

If even higher speeds than those above set forth are required, I may resort to the operation of the rod 85 by its handle adjacent to the lever 71, and this will'put into in the use of the high speed planetary gearer the shaft from the otherl ing is that it is available for striking ofi at a more rapid rate than usually necessary, and'the foregoing also applies to the finishing phase of operation. In other words, the machine could be used for striking ofi' and finishing work alone by the'highest speed action. f

'At or near one e 6'is a'clu'tch 86 which disconnects one end The clutch is operable by a suitable lever'nearthe epproper openings.

J ilnrespect" to erat0r. By -shifting this clutch the drive on one end alone of the machine may be pro duced in forward orreversedirections, and the machine thus properly adjusted crosswise or i the work, j

Certain control lever mechanism may be in duplicate atopposite ends of the machine so the progress of the latter may'beregulated from either end, as conditions require;

, The members 33 have the-additien'al open ings 'at their upper ends 'so tl i at an, adjustment involving the lot'v'eri'ng of'jthe pressure apron approximately 4 inches mayfbe ob-j tained, an arrangement 'fdesirableIt6 pre, pare a. concrete surface for jthereception of 'a'bri'ck pavement. All that isrequired. is

the shifti'n ,of. thej bearihg pins into the the 'p;lanetary clutch, itis notable that the. saniei's especially designed for the particular service nd 'of the' part shaft of operative'contact while pressed upon with of machine. I pansionfring 'type and very powerful; One

lever is used. tocontrolthe gearings, and- The clutch is of the exthe clutch and the drum'brake are intercon- 5' nee-ted. The forward movement of the lever will throw out theclutch and tighten the drum brake, stopping the drum. The pow er is, then transmitted throu-gh"the gearingin a three-to-one ratio Without changing. the'direction of rotation. i

Having thus described my invention; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a concrete class described,- thecombination of a pressure apronfadapted to be disposed over the road surface, means for subjecting said apron to pressure throughout its whole area at onetime and while the apron is in contact with concrete aggregates, and 'means'for vibrating the apron while subjected to such pressure] finishing machine 5f the 2. In a concrete finishing machine of the 3. In a concrete finishing inachine'of the '1:

class described, the combination of. a pres? sure apron'adapted to overlie and contact with concrete aggregates and, possessing a considerable area for the distribution "of pressure upon the said aggregates, and means for simultaneously subjecting: the "apron to pressure arid-to vibration overits entire area the concrete aggregates, whereby the pressure and vibrating action may be transmitted to the aggregates. 4. In a concrete finishing machine of the class -described the combination of a port tion of pavement, a pressureapronj of conllO able supportadapted to travel over the grade concrete aggregates laid in the for'rna;

siderable area carried by said support and adapted-'te'be dlsposed in contact with the I surface aggregates upon the road, means for subjecting said apron to pressure and while under pressure vibratingit, a 'vibrati'ngpres} sure action, and apron moving means to getherwith means for, advancing the port ablei support operating in synchronis n :1;

therewith.

" 5. 'Ina' machine of the combination'ofla portable support adapted V 'to travel over a roadbed, a pressure memb r carieeby; sa d; ubpbrtandidisposed efcfo'l tact with the surface of concrete aggregates upon the road, said member being adapted iii;

to overlie a considerable portion of the aggregates at one time, means for pressing the said pressure member down on the aggregates and vibrating it at such time throughout its entire area, and means for advancing the pressure member progressively over the surface of the concrete aggregates'for-performing pressure and vibrating actions at one time but in successive order in respect thereto. I 1 r 6. In a machine ofthe classdescribed, the combination of a traveling support adapted to advance over concrete aggregates upon a road bed, wheels adapted to support said support in its travel, a pressure member carried by said support, and operating means for said pressure memberacting to cause such engagement with uniform pressure thereof on the concrete aggregates on the road that substantially the weight of the ena tire traveling support may be received on the pressure member.

7. In a machine of the class described, th

combination of a support mounted on wheels and adapted to travel over concrete aggregates upon a road-bed, a, pressure member of considerable area carried by said support and adapted to contact withsaid concrete bined with driving means for the wheels of the support to move the same during the' engaging and disengaging operations of the pressure member. i 9. Means'substantially as claimed in claim 7, combined with mechanism for vibrating thepressure member while engaged with the concrete aggregates.

10. Means substantially as claimed in claim 7, combined with mechanism amt bratingthe pressure member throughout its Whole area at one time and while in engagement with the concrete aggregates.

characterized er that as it moves the pressuremember into engagement with the concrete aggregates substantially the entire weight of the traveling support may be caused to be received on the pressure themher and said weight thus transmitted to the concrete aggregates on the road-bed.

12. In a machin'ef cfithe class described, a portable or traveling su port adapted to move over -a road. sub-grade'upomwhich are laid freshly distributed concrete aggregates, the said support. being adapted to span the entire width of the sub-grade, a pressure: apron carried by}. 7 [said support and likewise area at one timeinto engagement with the concrete aggregates.

13. A machine substantially as set forth in claim 12, combined with wheels for supporting the same and enabling it to travel upon the road forms at opposite sides of the road,

the pressure subjecting means being adapted to operate the pressure apronso that during its period'of engagement with the road-bedaggregates a material'portion of the whole weight of the machine may be transferred to the pressure apron from the said wheels.

la. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a portable support adapted to travel over concrete aggregates upon a road sub-grade, means for treating said aggregates carried by said support and comprising a pressure member, means for operating said pressure member to cause a step by step progressive movement thereof, durmg which movement said memberengage's' and .disengages-itself' in relation to the aggregates and applies pressure to the latter over a considerable area thereof.

15. Means substantially as claimed in claim 14, wherein-the operating means for the pressure member is capable of transferring a material portion of theweight of the machineto the pressure member when the latter is engaged with the aggregates.

. 16. Means substantially as claimed in claim'14,-c0mbined with driving means for moving the portable supportat a rate of speed corresponding with the speed of step by ste' rogression of said pressure member.

17. eans substantially as claimed in claim 14, combined with driving means for moving the portable support at a rate of speed corresponding with the speed of'pro-- gression of said pressure'member, and means for v brating said pressure member while in engagement with and under pressure down 4 "upon the concrete aggregates.

11. Means substantially as claimed in claim 7, wherein the last means set forth is" 18. Means substantially as claimed in claim 14, combined with mechanism {orimarting vibration to the pressure member iluring that portion of its cycle of movement .wherein it is engaged and pressed down upon the concrete aggregates.

-. 19. Means substantially as claimed in claim 14, combined with means for causing relatively slow movement of the pressure 'means for the pressure member comprises elliptic gearing operating to maintain the pressure member an appreciable period of in its progression of its stepping movement at an accelerated speed to bring it into successive engagement with the concrete.

21. Means substantially as claimed in claim 14*, characterized-inthat the moving means .for the pressure member comprises elliptic gearing operatingto maintain the pressure member an appreciable period of time in engagement with'the concrete aggregates, shift said pressure'member forward in'its'progression of itsstepping movement at accelerated speed to bring it into successive" engagement with the concrete, combined with vibrating mechanism mounted upon the pressure member and operable to vibrate the same-during the period of its engagement with the concrete aggregates.

22. .In a concrete finishing machine of the class described, the combination of a traveling sup ort-adapted to operate over av road sub-gra e having'freshly laid concrete .aggregates thereon, a resilientlymounted pressure apron upon said support, means for enaging and disengagingsaid pressure apron ythe progressive forward movement with the surface aggregates on the road subgrade, andmeans for controlling the movement of the pressure apron to maintain itin-.engagement with the concrete aggregates a. greater time than consumed in bringing it into successive progressive engagement with 23. Means substahtially as claimed in claim 22, combined with vibrating mecha-.-

nism;for bodily vibration of the pressure apron whilst in pressure engagement with the concrete aggregates, the operating means for-the apron being adapted to subject it to pressure while it is gregates. 4 Y

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support adapted to travel over freshly laidconcrete'aggregates for finishing treatment thereof, a pressure in contact with the agmember mounted on said support, means for bringing said pressure member into engagement with the aggregates, maintaining said engagement an appreciable length of time and simultaneously subjecting the pressure member to a substantial pressure, thereafter lifting the pressure member and causing successive engagement, pressure, and lifting operations, in regular cycles, and means for vibrating the pressure member'- during the portion of the cycle of its action afore- 1 said when pressure is applied thereto as it is engaged with the concrete. 25 In a fini hing mach'ne of the class described, the combination of a traveling support adapted to span a road-bed, a pressure apron for spanning said road-bed forengaging concrete aggregates thereon, means resiliently supporting the pressure apron upon I the traveling support, vibrator shafts mounted upon said pressure apron, vibrating devices carried by said shafts for imparting their vibrations to the apron, and

p a prime mover connected with the apron to impart successive cycles of movement thereto in each of which cycles the apron. is engaged with the'concrete aggregates subjectsure apron thereon, vibrating-means for said apron, driving means for advancing the support including change speed gearing, and

a prime mover common to said means, to-

gether with a controlling device for simultaneously controlling the operations of said means and operable to set said change speed gearing and, at the same time render operative or inoperative the pressure member and the vibrating mechanism therefor.

27. Ina concrete finishing machine, the

combin ltion of a travelling support, a pressureapron thereon, vibrating means for said apron, driving means for advancing the sup port, a primemover common to said means,

together with a controlling device for simultaneously controlling the operation \of said means,'combined with a strikeoif, moving means leading from the prime mover to said strike 0E and including a driving link, and means for raising and lowering the strike off, and a member carried by the strike off to engage the driving link. when the strike off is lowered and become automatically disengaged therefrom when the strikeofi' is raised.

Y 28. In a finishing machine of'the class described, the combination of a traveling sup.

port adapted to operate over a surface of freshly laid concrete aggregates, a finishing device for performing afinishing operation upon said aggregates and hung to move back and forth acrossthesurface of said aggregates, driving means for said device including a drivin link and a pin on, the device 'interengaging said link, together with raising and lowering means for t e device for disengaging and engaging sai pin with the link respectively, 7

29. In a concrete finishing machine, the combination of a travelling'support, a pressure apron thereon, vibrating means for said apron, driving means for advancing the sup port, a prime mover common to said means,- together with a controlling device for simultaneously controlling the operation of said means, said driving means including gearing adapted to be set foioperation. by the controlling means, and a separate device for causing operation of the gearing to effect the advancing movement and to discontinue such movementat will.

30. Means substantially as set forth in claim 26, combined with a clutch for C011". necting the gearing aforesaid with the prime mover to control the drivin of the machine for efi'ecting its travel, an for dis 5 continuing such travel.

31. In a finishing machine of the class described, the combinationof a traveling support, operating'means for advancing said support inforward and reverse directions ;and including low speed gearing for the forward direction-movement and high speed gearing forthe reverse, direction movement, concrete aggregatertreatment mechanism mounted. on the support, and a controlling device common to said treatment mechanism and said gearing'for discontinuing operation of said treatment mechanism during rearward "movement of the traveling support, and throwing the treatment mechanism into action during forward movement of the support.

32. Means substantially as claimed in I claim 31, combined with a controlling device adapted to discontinue the movement of the support at any time during its forward or reverse travel.

33. In a finishing machine of the class described, the combination of a traveling support, a pressure apron, means supporting the pressure apron upon thesupport com- 1 prising sets of spaced relatively vertical levers pivotally connected, with the apron,

a horizontal equalizing lever pivotally .con-

nected with the vertical levers of each set .gregates. I

and carried by the support and yoke. connecting each set of vertical levers, a series of eccentrics operating on said yokes oft-he sets of levers, and driving means for said I eccentrics whereby to operate the pressure apron to engage and disengage it from the concrete aggregates disposed below the sup said aggregates. I 4 34. A machine as claimed in claim 33, combmed with vibrating devices mounted port in such away as to apply-'pressureto upon'the said equalizing levers for communlcatmg vibration therethru and through the vertical levers to the pressure apron,

35. A'machine as claimed in claim 33 combined with vibrating devices mounted I upon the said equalizin levers for communi-' cating vibration theret ru and through'the vertical levers to the pressure apron, and gearing arranged to operate the eccentrics so as to cause relatively slow movement thereof during the time they are operated to exertpressure upon the apron, and accelerate said movement to quickly lift the pressure apron and bring it in a successive engagement with pressure and vibrating action upon theag- 36. In a scribed, the combination of'a traveling support, operating means for advancing said support in forward and reverse directions,

concrete treatment, mechanism mounted on the support, a strike off alsomouhted on the support, and special drive gearing for driving the support at low, forward, and high finishing machine of the class dehigher speed, for the use of 

